Sportswriter Drew Ellis examines the rivalry between Michigan State and U-of-Michigan. Impartial to both, he will judge who is a step ahead or behind both on the football field and on the basketball court. Join in on the debate and follow him on Twitter @ellisdrew

Monday, June 24, 2013

Burke or Hardaway - Who has the better NBA career?

It’s been a while.

I went into a little bit of hibernation from the blog
with basketball season ending, but am ready to start things back up this week
with the NBA Draft looming and the college football season not too far off.

The big focus of this week is on the 2013 NBA Draft and
the future of Michigan guards Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr.

It’s funny how things have changed for both men since the
college season ended.

It was a slam-dunk decision for Burke to opt for the NBA
Draft, but Hardaway’s decision to leave seemed somewhat questionable.

However, the momentum of both players seems to be
turning. Burke will still be a lottery pick, but his stock seems to be sliding.
Hardaway started as an expected second-round pick, but is now working his way
into the first round and still climbing each day.

ESPN Insider Chad Ford lists Burke as No. 9 on his NBA
Draft big board, while Hardaway Jr. has climbed up to a tie for 24th.

Burke is stuck in-between positions, as he is a shooting
guard/point guard mixture. Burke will look to score and not just be a floor
general, but he still has the skills to run the floor.

Hardaway has been impressive in his workouts, with Ford
indicating he could go anywhere from seventh to 27th, but he still
is a work in progress.

Hardaway Jr. has the raw talent to be great in the NBA,
just like his father. He could be a mid-to-late first round pick that ends up
being a huge success for an NBA franchise.

Burke, however, seems to be riding that boom or bust
moniker right now. Is he too small? Will his game translate to the NBA level?
Can he be a franchise player?

Time will tell on both, but here is your chance to share
your thoughts on both players.

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About Me

I work for The Oakland Press as a sports writer and copy editor. I cover college football along with some prep sports. I spent six years covering Central Michigan University football, men's basketball, and baseball for The Morning Sun in Mt. Pleasant.